Boat rack means on automobiles



J y 27, 9 8- M. LAIT 2,446,092

BOAT RACK MEANS ON AUTOMOBILES Filed April 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y I Inventor L --28 Morris Lair July27, 1948. M. LAIT 2,446,092

BOAT RACK MEANS on AUTOMOBILES Filed April 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 8 Inventor Morris Lair Prams Jul -21, 194s UNITED S-TA'll-ZS; PATENT omca non uses: @2 3; aU'roMomnEs 3 Mom 741 245 a My invention relates toimprrwements in boat I racks for use in carrying small boats on top of automobiles.

A primary object of my invention isto provide a simple form of boat rack adapted for easy attachment to or detachment from tops of the usual closed automobiles, without injury thereto or marring the same, and which is especially con- Endbrackets 6 of bar metal, preferably, and substantially inverted U-shape, are-bolted, as at 8, to the ends of said bars 2, 3 to extend crosswise of the same and support said bars slightlyelevated above said top 4. Rubber, or other resilient material feet 3 are provided on said brackets 3 structed and ar'ranged so that one man may load I the usual row boat or the like, onto such tops or unload the same with comparative ease and without danger of injuring ,himself, or the boat.

Another object is to provide a device of the character and for the purpose above indicated which provides for turning the boat and inclining the same in a manner facilitating lifting and lowering the boat in loading and unloading operations.

Other and subordinate objects, also comprehended by my invention, together with the precise lines;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation;

Figure 3 is a, view in side elevation illustrating 1 one ofthe fasteners for attachment to the oar lock of the boat;

Figure 4 is afview in edge elevation of the same;

Figure 5 is a-view in perspective of the type of oar lock bracket in which the fastener is designed for use;

Figure 6 is" a view in perspective illustrating the use of the boat rack in lowering a boat to the ground and raising thesame in loading and unloading operations; t V

Figure '7 is a view in rearelevation illustrating operation of the rack in swinging the boat into loaded position;

Figure 8 is a view in perspective illustrating the boat in loaded position.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals, my

improved boat rack, designated generally by thenumeral l, comprises, in the embodiment shown, a pair of front and rear base bars 2. 3 of any suitable light strong material and which are adapted to extend across the top 4 of a closed automobile body 5 adjacent to the front and rear of said top.

to prevent the-same from marring the top 4 and slipping thereon.

Attaching straps 9, with buckles III for length adjustment of thesame are passed through metal end loops II. on the underside of said bars 2, 3 v

and provided with grapple hoops l3 which are "adapted to engage under the usual side channel beads H on the automobile body 5 whereby said bars 2, 3 may be easily or, detached therefrom. a

A boat turning bar IS with right angled ends l6 has one end pivoted by a horizontal belt I! to an upstanding arm I! of an angle "bracket the horizontal arm I9 of which is pivoted by a with cal bolt 20 to the end of the front bar 2 disposed at the right hand side of the automobile body 5. The other end I6 of said bar I5 is pivoted bya horizontal spindle bolt 2| of a grooved wheel 22.-

An arcuate track bar 23, on which the grooved wheel 22 is fitted,is bolted at one'end as at 23,,

on the endof the rear bar 3 at theright hand side of the automobile body 5 to extend horizon tally to the end of the front bar 2 at the left hand side of said automobile body 5. The track bar 23 is curved in anjarc having the vertical bolt 20 as its center and connects the front and rear bars 2, 3 rigidly in spaced apart parallel relation.

As will now be seen, the boat turning bar II.

top 4, over the front'bar 2, or, into a' longit'udinally extending position side of the top 4. I

Boat fasteners are provided on the boat turning bar 15 for securing on top thereof, in inverted position,: a boat 24 of the type having a pair of opposite frontoar lock brackets 25 each with a vertical oar lockaperture 28 therein.

The boat fasteners comprise apair of crank disks. 21- rotatably mounted on bearing brackets 23 straddling the boat turning bar I5 and suit ably fixed thereto adjacent opposite ends thereof with the crank disks 21 coplanarlwlth'said bar and rotatable about axes transverse to said bar,

alongside the right hand attached on said top 4,

A pair of upstanding pins 29 adjacent said brackets 28, intermediate the same, are suitably fixed to said bar ii to extend part way through the oar lock apertures 26 when the boat 24 is inverted over said bar II. A pair of L-shaped latch hooks 30 are pivoted at one end, as at 3|, on the crank disks 2l eccentrically for positioning of the other ends thereof over said apertures 26, and lowering of said other ends part way into said apertures 26 by rotation of said crank disks 21. Suitable handles 32 provide for rotating said crank disks 21 to revolv the pivots 3| into dead center position relative to the axis of the crank disks 21 to latch the catch hooks 30 against the pins 29 and thereby lock the described fasteners closed.

In using the described boat rack in loading the boat 24 thereon, the boat turning bar I! is swung into longitudinally extending position on the top 4 alongside the right hand side of said top, as shown in Figure 6. With the boat 24 tilted on the stern thereof, on the ground, or the like, to incline upwardly over the top 4 on the right hand side of the automobile body 5, said bar I5 is swung on its horizontal axis to incline the pins 29 toward said boat, as shown in Figure 6, and the boat 24 is then maneuvered so as to insert the pins 29 part way into the oar lock apertures 26,.it being of course understood that in this operation the open side of the boat is positioned to face the automobile body 5. With the catchhooks 30 suitably said hooks into said apertures 26 and to lock the fasteners in the manner already described. The boat 24 may then be lifted by its stern, as shown in Figure 7, sufiiciently to clear the rear bar 3, the boat turning bar i5 turning in this operation held by hand, the handles 32 are swung to insert about its horizontal axis into upright position.

Then the boat 24 may be swung into a position of rest to extend longitudinally of the top 4 with its rear portion resting on the rear bar 3, the

boat turning bar l5 swinging in this operation about its vertical axis and being supported at its free end by the grooved wheel 22 running on the track bar 23. In unloading the boat 24, the procedure is substantially the reverse of that described for loading, and, will be understood without further explanation.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufflce to impart a clear understanding of my'invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein 'reserved to such modifications as fall within "the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Arack for use in loading and carrying on top of an automobile body, of the type having upper side beads, an inverted row boat having oar lock brackets, said rack comprising a pair of front and rear base bars adapted to extend across the position of rest on the rear base bar and thereby swing said turning bar parallel with the front base bar to support said boat while being swung. and means to attach said bars on said top and to said beads, said supporting means comprising an arcuate track rigidly connecting said base bars and a roller on said turning bar running on said track.

2. A rack for use in loading and carrying on top of an automobile body, of the type having upper side beads, an inverted row boat having oar lock brackets, said rack comprising a pair of front and rear base bars adapted to extend across the front and rear of said top, a boat turning bar pivotally connected at one end to one end of the front base bar to be swung horizontally parallel with said front bar from a position in which the same extends longitudinally of said body, means front and rear of said top, a boat turning bar pivotally connected at one end to one end of the front base bar to be swung horizontally parallel with said front bar from a position in which the supportingthe other end of said boat turning bar during swinging thereof, fasteners on said boat turning bar adapted for attachment to said brackets whereby said boat may be attached on top of the .boat turning bar to be swung into a position of rest on the rear base bar and thereby swing said turning bar parallel with the front base bar to support said boat while being swung, and means to attach said bars on said top and to said beads, said pivotal connection providing for turning of the boat turning bar about an horizontal axis to facilitate attaching of said fasteners to said brackets.

3. A rack for use in loading and carrying on top of an automobile body, of the type having upper side beads, an inverted row boat having oar lock brackets, said rack comprising a pair of front and rear base barsadapted to extend across the front and rear of said top, a boat turning bar pivotallyconnected at one end to one end of the front base bar to be swung horizontally parallel with said front bar from a position in which the same extends longitudinally of said body, means supporting the other end of said boat turning bar during swinging thereof, fasteners on said boat turning bar adapted for attachment to said brackets whereby said boat may be attached on top of the boat turning bar to be swung into a position of rest on the rear base bar and thereby swing said turning bar parallel 'with the front base bar to support said boat while being swung, and means to attach said bars on said top and to said beads comprising straps on the ends of said base bars having grapple hooks thereon adapted to hook under said beads.

MORRIS LAIT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,001,619 Levoyer May 14, 1935 2,180,032 Casley Nov. 14, 1939 2,256,038 Woodrufl Sept. 16, 1941 2,395,173 Dobler Feb. 19, 1946 2,412,162 Lindblom Dec. 3, 1946 2,434,826 Wubben Jan, 20, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 44,648 France Dec. 15, 1934 (Addition to No. 738,362) 

